Private vs. Public Dorms

<p>OK. So, next year I'll be a freshman at UT. I'm a girl and I've been trying to decide where to live recently. Right now my top three choices are San Jac, SRD, and Hardin House. </p>

<p>I need opinions on any of the 3.
Is all girls or coed better?</p>

<p>please hellllpppp. i'm getting desperate</p>

<p>What’s wrong with the other on-campus dorms?</p>

<p>Hopefully if Hardin and SRD are on your radar, then you already have paid your application deposit and are on the “list” for applications that will be mailed on Feb 1. If not, get on it today (or get on the one that’s most important to you). </p>

<p>I know most about SRD (my daughter lives there). For our family and for her, I can’t imagine her anywhere else. She is a bit of a princess and the “home like” feel of SRD has provided a flawless transition from home to college. It is what SHE needed but for some students it may be too “rule” based, as some students can’t imagine living in an all girls, boys restricted dorm (boys can visit in rooms from noon-10:00 pm Fri, Sat, Sun but can dine with a residence during all meal times).</p>

<p>The staff at SRD only has the best interests of the girls at all times and provide emotional support, big hugs, cotton candy (haha), needles and thread and whatever is needed to make the girl’s lives smooth and fun. They arrange many fun activities and the amenities can’t be beat (swimming pool, well stocked gym, trainer, study loft, private study rooms, and the best food on campus…home cooked with lots of love from the wonderful ladies in the dining hall). The food is all inclusive so vs UT you don’t have to worry about having to add more money to your dining card if it’s running low.</p>

<p>Whoever roomates matches the girls at SRD does a really outstanding job. The community bathrooms are beautifully done and suite bathrooms have wonderful bathtubs. All rooms are provided with housekeeping once a week and it is the only day my daughter’s bed is ever made…lol</p>

<p>SRD is about 60% Greek vs Hardin, which is closer to 95%. My daughter liked the fact if recruitment didn’t work out for her (it did) she would not feel odd man out at SRD like she might have at HH. I feel SRD is a 10x better facility than HH, BUT HH is deep in tradition and that can trump the facility in families where that is important.</p>

<p>collegeshopping - thanks for all the information. My daughter has been accepted to UT and sent in an application/depost for SRD before Christmas. We haven’t heard back, but we live overseas. Hopefully it wasn’t too late.</p>

<p>We haven’t been able to visit UT yet and she is waiting to hear from some other schools in March. So I was wondering what we would need to do in Feb. to reserve a spot if she decides to go to UT. It sounds like we would need to sign a contract. If she decides not to go to UT, how does that work?</p>

<p>On Or about Feb 1 they will send out the contracts and you will need to fill that out and the roommate questionaire and get it back to SRD as quickly as you can. Not sure what I would suggest in your situation as I know we and other families got them in the mail and promptly Fedexed them back the same day. I have heard that after a week or so after contracts go out, enough are returned to begin the wait list. Since they don’t take credit cards, maybe you could “pre-send” the rooming deposit (it was $750.00 last year) in the middle of Januray so it arrives the last week and then maybe they would accept your contract prelimarily via email (scanned with signatures) with originals to follow?? If I were in your shoes I would email Jessica at <a href="mailto:Jessica@SRD.org">Jessica@SRD.org</a> and ask what she suggests. If you would like, PM me and I will tell what we learned about smooth move ins. (where the room is located in the building can make a huge difference). Good Luck…CS</p>

<p>Thank you, CS. I will contact Jessica.</p>

<p>I am a transfer student at UT Austin and i will be a sophomore/junior. I really like SRD but do you think that I will integrate easily since most of the residents are freshmen?if not where should I go</p>

<p>About 15% of residences are sophomores. You really should be fine.</p>

<p>so do you think that I should apply for a single room or a shared room? I am thinking about applying sunroom single or regular single… I really need to know ASAP so that I can mail my application.</p>

<p>Sunroom singles are always occupied by returning residents. You can list it, but I wouldn’t count on it. My daughter got her 6th choice, so list them with a grain of salt. The regular singles are super nice though!</p>